Coal-oil condensing and separating apparatus



Patented Feb. 3,1880.

` J. H. an W. P. NIGOLAI.

Coal-Oil Gondensipg and Separating Apparatus.

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a UNITED STATES JOHN H. NICOLAI AND WILLIAM F. NICOLAI, OF" BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

COAL-OIL CONDENSING AND SEPARATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 224,037, dated February 3, 1880.

Application ined July 16,1879.

To all whom t may concern;

Be it known that we, JOHN'H. NICOLAI and WlLLrAM F. NrooLAI, both of the city of Baltimore and .State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Coal-Oil Gondensing and Separating Apparatus, of which the following is' a specification 5 and we do hereby declare that in the same is contained a full, clear, and exact description of our said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon.

This invention relates to means for separating the distillate from coal-oil or petroleumstills into fluid bodies differing in speeic gravity; and it consists in a worm-tub or cooling-vat and a closed separator providedwith a pipe leading from the separator to the exterior of the vat, and having a worm-section leading from the still to the separator, and also other worm-sections leading from suitable parts of said separator to nozzles at the lower part of the vat, by means of which a heavy burning-fluid and a light hydrocarbon are delivered from the respective nozzles at the same time.

The separator being inclosed by and submerged within the vat, in order to remove the contents of the separator, we introduce a pipe which, being attached to the separator, leads to the exterior of the vat, thus enabling the said contents to be drawn oft'. v

In the description of the said invention which follows reference is made to the accompanyin g drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which- Figure 1 is-a sectional side view of a wormtub or vat and its attachments, with which is combined the separator before alluded to. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the apparatus on the dotted line w y.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in both views.

A is the worm-tub or cooling-vat, supplied with water in the usual manner. B is the first section of the worm or coil connectingthe still with the upper portion of the separator C, which separator consists of a closed boX of any convenient size and shape, supported within the worm-tub. The second section, l), of the worm or coil commences at the separator and extends from a point therein a few inches above the bottom thereof, as shown in the drawings, to the lower part of the worm-tub, where it connects with a nozzle, a. Another worm or coil (represented by F) leads from the top of the separator to a nozzle, b, at thelower part of the tub. The pipe G leads from the sepa rator to the exterior of the vat, as shown.

The separation of the distillate into the lighter and heavier products of petroleum depends, in this apparatus, for its operation' upon the said products condensing at different temperatures. Upon the distillate entering the submerged worm its heavier constituent is condensed and falls in a liquid condition to the bottom of the separator, and the uncondensed constituent enters the second section of the Worm, to be subsequently liquefied as it passes to the nozzle b. By this means :a heavy burning-tluid and a light hydrocarbon are drawn from the still at a single operation, the specific gravity of the said products depending upon the refri geratin g action of the water, the location ofthe separator with reference to the worms, and other conditions which may be varied at will.

In order to give free access of the light vapor to the worm F, we either enlarge the upper part of the said worm or use two or morepipes which converge a short distance below theV separator, as shown in the drawings.

By extending the upper end of the second section of the worin above the bottom of the separatoryas shown, a body of the distillate is retained within the separator, which has the effect of allowing the full escape of the light vapor, thereby reducing the density of the iiuid discharged at the nozzle a.

The pipe G is used to carry oft' any water accumulated in the separator, and also to entirely empty the same of fluid, when desired.

We are aware thatalcohol-condensin g worms have been employed in which the lower end of the worm terminated in a reservoir submerged within a vat and having vertical pipes extending ott' and down from said reservoir. We are also aware that in rectifying petroleum a separator has been located between the first condenser and the gasoline -lcondenser, in which separator the gasoline separates from the oil and water, the oil returning to the still and the Water passing off through a pipe. We are further aware that in a separator-condenser for hydrocarbons aworm has been used consisting of two or more straight pipes connected at recurring lower levels by couplings,

forming .cross-pipes, in combination with a separate trap-receiver and tail-pipe for each cross-pipe; aud such apparatus we do not therefore claim 5" but,

Haying thus desoribedfour invention, what We claim as new, and Wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The Worm-tub or cooling-vat A and closed separator C, provided with the pipe G, leading therefrom to the exterior of the Vat, combined with the Worm-section B, leading from the lower part of the vat, and the section F,

Witnesses:

JN0. T. MADDOX,

WM. T. HOWARD. 

